Optical disc driver enclosure

ABSTRACT

An optical disc driver enclosure ( 10 ) includes a first cover ( 20 ) and a second cover ( 30 ). The first cover has a bottom plate and two first side plates ( 22 ). A locating plate ( 24 ) extends inwardly from a front upper edge of each first side plate, and two protrusion plates ( 26 ) are formed on an upper edge of each first side plate. The second cover has a top plate ( 31 ) and two second side plates ( 32 ). A locating slot ( 34 ) is formed at a front end of each second side plate, which can engage with the corresponding locating plate. Two cutouts ( 36 ) are defined in each second side plate. During assembly, the locating slots engage with the locating plates with the second cover at an angle to the first cover. The second cover is then rotated downwardly so that the cutouts engage with the protrusion plates and the second side plates are clipped between the first side plates and the protrusion plates. The first cover and the second cover can then be fixed together by a pair of screws ( 59 ).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention generally relates to an optical disc driverenclosure for mounting a driver housing therein, and more particularlyto an enclosure having a first cover and a second cover which can bereadily and firmly engaged together to securely mount the driver housingin the enclosure.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] In assembling a typical optical disc driver, a driver housing issecured inside a first cover, then a second cover is mounted on thefirst cover. A typical example is shown in China Patent No. 95204891.4,wherein the optical disc driver enclosure comprises a first cover and asecond cover. Ordinarily, 4 to 6 mounting parts are formed on each sideplate of the first cover and the second cover, respectively. Thesemounting parts engage with each other to combine the first cover and thesecond cover together. However, there are no guiding means on the firstor second covers to aid assembly of the two covers, so the two coversare difficult to properly align before engaging one to the other.Furthermore, once the second cover is engaged improperly to the firstcover, it is difficult to disengage the second cover from the firstcover. If too much force is used to disengage the two covers, theelements of the optical disc driver in the covers might be damaged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide anoptical disc driver enclosure which is easily assembled anddisassembled.

[0006] In order to achieve the object set out above, an optical discdriver enclosure of the present invention includes a first cover and asecond cover. The first cover has a bottom plate and two first sideplates extending upwardly from two side edges of the bottom plate. Alocating plate extends inwardly from a front upper edge of each firstside plate, and two inwardly and upwardly protrusion plates are definedon an upper edge of each first side plate. The second cover has a topplate and two second side plates extending downwardly from two sideedges of the top plate. A locating slot is formed at a front end of eachsecond side plate, which can engage with a corresponding locating plate,and a pair of cutouts is defined in each second side plate. Duringassembly, the locating slots engage with the locating plates and therear end of the second cover is pressed downwardly so that the cutoutsengage with the protrusion plates. The second side plates thereby becomeclipped between the first side plates and the protrusion plates. Thefirst cover and the second cover can then be secured together using apair of screws.

[0007] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the presentinvention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008]FIG. 1 is an exploded, isometric view of an optical disc driverenclosure in accordance with the present invention;

[0009]FIG. 2 is a magnified view of detail II in FIG. 1;

[0010]FIG. 3 is an exploded, isometric view of the optical disc driverenclosure with a driver housing in accordance with the presentinvention;

[0011]FIG. 4 is an isometric, partially assembled view of FIG. 3;

[0012]FIG. 5 is an isometric assembled view of FIG. 3 with two screwsyet to be assembled;

[0013]FIG. 6 is another embodiment of a first cover in accordance withthe present invention; and

[0014]FIG. 7 is a magnified view of detail VII in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Reference will now be made to the drawing figures to describe thepreferred embodiment of the present invention in detail.

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 1-2, an optical disc driver enclosure 10 inaccordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention includesa first cover 20 and a second cover 30. The first cover 20 has a bottomplate (not labeled) and two first side plates 22. A locating plate 24extends inwardly and horizontally from an upper edge near a front ofeach first side plate 22. At least one protrusion plate 26 is stampedinwardly and upwardly at the upper edge of each first side plate 22.Each protrusion plate 26 is parallel to the first side plate 22, spaceda certain distance therefrom. A locking plate 28 extends inwardly andhorizontally from an upper edge near a rear of each first side plate 22.A threaded hole 29 is defined in the locking plate 28.

[0017] The second cover 30 has two second side plates 32 and a top plate31. A locating slot 34 is defined in a front end of each second sideplate 32 for engaging with the locating plates 24 of the first cover 20.Each locating slot 34 is defined between an upper tab 35 and a lower tab33. The lower tab 33 is shorter than the upper tab 35, and the width ofthe locating slot 34 is a little wider than a thickness of the locatingplate 24 of the first cover 20. By means of the locating slots 34, thesecond cover 30 can engage with the locating plates 24 of the firstcover 20 at an oblique angle, and the second cover 30 can then berotated about the locating plates 24 to close against the first cover20. A pair of cutouts 36 is defined in a lower edge of each second sideplate 32, which cutouts can cooperate with the corresponding protrusionplates 26 of the first cover 20. A pair of concavities 38 is formed at arear end of the top plate 31, the center of each concavities 38 beingflat. A through hole (not shown) is defined in a center of eachconcavity 38.

[0018] Referring also to FIGS. 3-5, the optical disc driver enclosure 10is used to mount a driver housing 50 therein. A groove 52 is defined ineach of two side walls (not labeled) of the driver housing 50, whichaccommodate the locking plates 28 of the first cover 20. Each groove 52has an opening 53 at a lower end and a holding plate 54 at an upper end.A through hole 55 is defined through the holding plate 54. A width ofthe locking plate 28 is designed to fit inside the width of the groove52.

[0019] In assembly, the openings 53 of the driver housing 50 are alignedwith the locking plates 28 of the first cover 20, then the driverhousing 50 slides into the first cover 20, the locking plates 28 slidingalong the grooves 52 until the holding plates 54 press against thelocking plates 28. The through holes 55 of the driver housing 50 alignwith corresponding threaded holes 29 of the first cover 20. The frontend of the second cover 30 is then engaged with the front end of thefirst cover 20, the locating slot 34 of the second cover 30 hooking withthe locating plate 24 of the first cover 20. At this time, the firstcover 20 and the second cover 30 are in an oblique angle positionrelative to each other. Then the second cover 30 pivots about the pointof engagement between the locating slots 34 and the locating plates 24to a covering position on the first cover 20. In this position, thecutouts 36 engage with the protrusion plates 26 to clip the second sideplates 32 between the first side plates 22 and the protrusion plates 26.At the same time, the concavities 38 of the second cover 30 pressagainst the holding plates 54 of the driver housing 50, and the throughhole (not shown) of each concavity 38 is aligned with the correspondingthrough hole 55 of each driver housing 50. Finally, two screws 59respectively pass through the through holes (not shown) of theconcavities 38 and the through holes 55 to engage with the threadedholes 29, securing the second cover 30 to the first cover 20.

[0020] To disassemble, the screws 59 are first unscrewed. Then thesecond cover 30 can be pivoted upwardly from a rear end thereof anddrawn backwardly relative to the first cover 20. The driver housing 50is then easily withdrawn from the first cover 20.

[0021]FIGS. 6-7 show a first cover 20′ of an optical disc driverenclosure 10 in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the firstcover of the present invention. Compared with the first cover 20 of thefirst embodiment, the only difference between the first cover 20′ andthe first cover 20 is that a locating plate 24′ extending inwardly froman upper edge near a front of each first side plate 22′ of the firstcover 20′ is tilted so that the front end is a little lower than theback end. This difference makes the locating plates 24′ more easilyengagable with the locating slots 34 of the second cover 30. Moreover,the second cover 30 can pivot around the locating plates 24′ through alarger angle than it can in the first embodiment.

[0022] It is to be understood, however, that even though numerouscharacteristics and advantages of the present invention have been setforth in the foregoing description, together with details of thestructure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrativeonly, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape,size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention tothe full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms inwhich the appended claims are expressed.

What is claimed is:
 1. An optical disc driver enclosure adapted to mounta driver housing therein, the driver enclosure comprising: a first covercomprising a bottom plate and a first side plate extending upwardly fromeach of two opposite sides of the bottom plate, a locating plateextending inwardly from a front end of each first side plate andparallel to the bottom plate, at least a protrusion plate being stampedinwardly and upwardly at a top edge of each first side plate; and asecond cover comprising a top plate and a second side plate extendingdownwardly from each of two opposite sides of the top plate, a locatingslot being defined on a front of each second side plate; wherein thelocating slots are engagable with the locating plates, and the secondside plates are rotatably clippable between the first side plates andthe protrusion plates.
 2. The optical disc driver enclosure as recitedin claim 1, wherein each locating slot is defined between an upper tabon one side thereof and a lower tab on another side thereof, and thelower tab is shorter than the upper tab.
 3. The optical disc driverenclosure as recited in claim 2, wherein a width of each locating slotis a little wider than a thickness of each locating plate.
 4. Theoptical disc driver enclosure as recited in claim 3, wherein the secondcover is rotatably pivotable through a certain angle about the point ofengagement between the locating plates and the locating slots.
 5. Theoptical disc driver enclosure as recited in claim 1, wherein at least acutout is defined in a lower edge of each second side plate, the cutoutsengage with the corresponding protrusion plates, and the second sideplates are thereby clipped between the first side plates and theprotrusion plates.
 6. The optical disc driver enclosure as recited inclaim 1, wherein a locking plate extends inwardly and horizontally froman upper edge near a rear of each first side plate, and a threaded holeis defined through the locking plate.
 7. The optical disc driverenclosure as recited in claim 6, wherein a concavity is formed at a rearend of the top plate, and the center of the concavity is flat, and athrough hole is defined in the center of the concavity.
 8. A driverenclosure adapted to mount a driver housing therein, the driverenclosure comprising: a first cover comprising a bottom plate and afirst side plate extending upwardly from each of two opposite sides ofthe bottom plate, a locating plate extending inwardly from a front endof each of the first side plates, a locking plate extending inwardlyfrom an upper edge of each first side plate; and a second covercomprising a top plate and a second side plate extending downwardly fromeach of two opposite sides of the top plate, a locating slot beingdefined on a front end of each second side plate, the locating slotsbeing engagable with the corresponding locating plates, a concavitybeing defined on the top plate, the concavity cooperating with thelocking plate to mount the second cover on the first cover.
 9. Thedriver enclosure as recited in claim 8, wherein the locating platesextend inwardly and parallel to the bottom plate.
 10. The driverenclosure as recited in claim 8, wherein the locating plates extendinwardly and at an angle to the bottom plate, wherein the front end ofeach locating plate is a little lower than the back end.
 11. The driverenclosure as recited in claim 8, wherein at least one protrusion plateis stamped inwardly from an upper edge of each first side plate, and theprotrusion plate is parallel to the corresponding first side plate. 12.The driver enclosure as recited in claim 11, wherein at least one cutoutis defined in each second side plate, and the cutouts engage withcorresponding protrusion plates to clip the second side plates betweenthe first side plates and the protrusion plates.
 13. The driverenclosure as recited in claim 8, wherein a threaded hole is definedthrough each locking plate.
 14. The driver enclosure as recited in claim13, wherein a through hole is defined in a center of each concavity forcooperating with the corresponding threaded hole to allow a screw to fixthe second cover on the first cover.
 15. An enclosure comprising: afirst cover defining a bottom plate and two opposite first side platesextending upwardly from the bottom plate; a protrusion plate stampedfrom an upper end of each of the first side plate in an parallel butoffset manner; a second cover defining a top plate and two oppositesecond side plates extending downwardly form the top plate; a horizontallocating tab located around an end portion of one of the aligned firstside plate and second side plate; a locating slot formed an end portionof the other of said aligned first side plate and second side plate; andthe second side plate is sandwiched between the protrusion plate and thecorresponding first side plate; whereby the second cover is pivotallyassembled to the first cover with a pivot around said locating tab.